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How to set an
Ethernet
connection as
metered on
Windows 10
BY MAURO HUCULAK
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 5:08 pm EDT

35 Comments

If you access the Internet

using an Ethernet
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connection, and you have
a limited data plan, use
this guide to set your
connection as metered on
Windows 10.

Windows 10 is an operating
system designed to take full
advantage of an internet
connection without any
restrictions on how much
bandwidth it uses to perform
tasks, such as download drivers
and updates, sync settings,
connect with cloud services, let
you get access to the World Wide
Web, and everything else.

While this isn't a problem for

many users, not everyone has an
unlimited data plan to access the
internet. Many users connect to
the World Wide Web through
metered internet connection
plans, which most of the time
have a limit on the amount of data
they can send and receive.

If you have a metered internet

connection, setting your network
connection as metered within
Windows
10will help to reduce
the amount of data you're allowed

to use in a given month.

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The problem is that the operating
system only offers this option for
Wi-Fi or cellular data connections,
and it appears that Microsoft
assumes that anyone connected
to a network using an Ethernet
connection has unlimited access
to the internet. However, if you
know your way around the
registry, you can still set an
Ethernet connection as metered
to reduce the internet data usage.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll

walk you through the steps to set
your wired network connection as
metered by modifying the registry.

How to set an
Ethernet metered
connection on
Windows 10
Important: Before you make any
changes, make sure to
understand that you'll be
modifying the Windows registry,

which could be a dangerous game

that can cause irreversible

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damage to your computer when
changes are not done properly. It's
recommended that you do a full
backup of your system before
proceeding. You've been warned!

1. Use the Windows key + R to

open the Run command,
type regedit, and click OK to
open the Windows registry.

2. Browse the following

path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\DefaultMediaCost

3. Right-click the

DefaultMediaCost key
and select
Permissions.

4. On the Security tab,

click the Advanced

button.


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5. Next to

TrustedInstaller, click
the Change link.

6. Type Administrators,

and click the Check

Names button to make
sure you're typing the
correct object.

7. Click OK.

 8. On the Advanced
Security Settings for
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DefaultMediaCost,
check the "Replace
owner on
subcontainers and
objects".

9. Click Apply.

10. Click OK.

11. On Permissions for

DefaultMediaCost,
select the
Administrators group,
and then make sure to
check the allow Full
Control box.

 12. Click Apply.

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13. Click OK.

14. On the

DefaultMediaCost key,
you'll nd different
entries, including for
3G, 4G, Default,
Ethernet, and WiFi with
their default data
values: 1 or 2. The data
value 1 means that the
connection type is non-
metered, and the data
value of 2 means that
the connection type is
metered. Double-click
the Ethernet DWORD
(32-bit) Value key, and
change the value to 2.

15. Click OK.

16. Close the registry and

restart your computer to
complete the process.

Once you set a metered

connection, the operating system
will stop using the internet in
many ways. For example:

 Windows updates will no longer
download automatically.
However, priority updates will

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continue to download when
available.

Apps will no longer update

automatically.

Live Tiles on the Start menu may

stop downloading updates.

Ofine content may not sync with

other devices.

In the case you want to revert to

the original settings, using the
same instructions mentioned
above, make sure to change the
Ethernet key data value from 2 to
1.

If you want to verify your Ethernet

connection is set to metered, you
can use apps, such as the
desktop version of Outlook, which
will detect and alert you that you
are using a metered connection,
as you probably won't see any
"Metered network" statics on the
App history tab in Task Manager.


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Obviously, you should also notice

a reduced amount of data usage
at the end of the month on your
internet connection plan.

While this is a handy workaround

to help you to control the data
usage of the operating system,
remember you will still need to
control how much data you
personally use to browse the web,
watch videos, and everything else
to not go over your data cap.

Do you have an unlimited or

metered internet connection? Tell
us in the comments below.

More Windows 10
resources
For more help articles, coverage,
and answers on Windows 10, you
can visit the following resources:

 Windows 10 on Windows
Central All you need to
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know

Windows 10 help, tips,

and tricks

Windows 10 forums on
Windows Central

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READER COMMENTS COMMENTS

How to set an Ethernet connection as metered on
Windows 10

Log In to Comment | Register

SORT BY DATE SORT BY RATING

Wilson Shrestha

This article saved my Life. Thank

you so much.

2 months ago REPLY

0
nhamiln

I think MS is well-aware that some

of its users can't possibly afford
unlimited access to bandwidth, yet
of course, as a user I know 256 MB
(ref. one of Bill
Gates'EARLYcommets,
maybemid-1980s??) is no longer at
all reasonable for maximum use
demand. However, my provider
HughesNet has limited plans. I live
in a western state about 15 miles
from a major small city where there
are several options for wi service.
However, where I am, there are
probably 50 homes with access to1
cell tower for cell phone or dish
internet service.We're not primitive
(we DO have indoor plumbing!), but
that's
the ONLY access we have for
 internet service. NO cable and even

NO DSL. If I knew how and what

MS wanted to download I could set
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my download time from 2-8 am
every dayon a programfrom
PCWorld or CNET and save myself
and my programs some trouble.
How dicult would it be to have an
option in Settingsfor creating a
metered connectionin Settings for
my inhouse wi network or
ethernet for individual computers?
I know the world goes on and
becomes more and more
sophisticated and automated, but
just NOT in the county in which I
live!!I need my updates, but they
need to be orderly and planned.
Just now, while typing this, I got a
reminder that my Defender is
outdated, but I can do nothing to
x it! Thanks.

3 months ago REPLY

0
Danie Nieuwoudt

This update to Windows 10, version

1607was driving me around the
bend. it was downloding about 6
times, and crashed when it was
installing. But with this (set
connection as meterred) it stoped
and save me alot of money and
time.

Thank you

Danie

5 months ago REPLY

0
uliar

 I have this stupid LTE USB modem

from Alcatel that the driver

recognizes it as an ETHERNET
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adapter. This hack comes in handy.

7 months ago REPLY

0
PhillD61

Similar issue for me. My

iPhone3GS does not do WiFi
Hotspot (no more software
updates for iPhone3GS). So I
plug it in to my laptop with the
cable, and to Windows that
looks like an Ethernet device.
Every few weeks I have been
suddenly losing loads of my
mobile data allowance, and now
I have found out how to stop
the problem - great.

It would be nice if I could set

each Ethernet device
individually to metered or not.
Because now when I plug in a
real Ethernet cable at the oce,
it thinks it is metered. And it
takes a reboot each time to
switch the setting.

6 months ago REPLY

0
PinoBatch

Have you tried physically

unplugging the Alcatel LTE USB
modem from the computer
whenever you are not using an
application that communicates
over the Internet?

5 months ago REPLY

0
Johntoreno07

 EVEN IF my connection was

unlimiated, it doesn't mean my

speed is unlimiated you dips!%t
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microsoft! if i have 5 mbps
connection my broswing
experience is going to slowdown
becuase Windows feels like
hogging ALL of my speed to
download some update!

FU*K YOU WINDOWS 10! if i want

to download large updates you
should give me the choice.

7 months ago REPLY

0
Ajay Vijayvargiya

Firstly, thanks for the post and the

discovery you made.I can see
outlook saying you are on Metered
Conenction.

However, I don't see this setting

effecting any other application,
other than Outlook. How to check if
other apps and OS is in metered
mode? None of NETSH command
can verify it either. No Windows API
or PowerShell can state it either
(I've WiFi metered, and
API/PowerShell/NETSH states it is
metered).

"Metered Network" in Task

Manager is meaningless.

9 months ago REPLY

0
FarStrider2001

Gpedit is your friend

10 months ago REPLY
0
 Sagar Limaye

Wow didn't know this option wasn't

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available for Ethernet. Dumbass
Microsoft

10 months ago REPLY

1
Prithwish Das

I have unlimited data plan in India,

and its not so costly.

10 months ago REPLY

0
Prayush Rai

Bhai kon sa hai?

9 months ago REPLY

1
shiva484

desktop outlook doesn't sync

properly when on metered
connection even if i say it to
connect anyway

10 months ago REPLY

0
jtzako

I dont necessarily want it metered,

but I would love a way to force it
not to use 100% bandwidth to
download updates. I cant use my
network for much of anything, even
on other devices, if my PC starts
downloading a large update (such
as a insider build).

10 months ago REPLY

0

 Caleb Howell

Yes, sadly, I am unable to obtain

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unlimited internet. In my particular
situation, I have HughesNet
satellite internet, and my monthly
"anytime" data limit is
10GB/month. Thanks for the
article! Now, if we can just get
Microsoft to allow us to designate
certain times of the day to
download updates, because
HughesNet gives an extra
10GB/month during the hours of
2am-8am.

10 months ago REPLY

5
PinoBatch

Are you able to move house to

an area where unmetered or
300+ GB/mo plans are
available? For example, if you
move to an area served by
Comcast, you get 1000 GB/mo.

5 months ago REPLY

0
ad47uk

Cheers for that, now if I decide to

install Windows 10 at some point I
can use that. I do have unlimited
internet, but putting ten on
metered stops it doing thins I don't
want it to do.

10 months ago REPLY

0
Jim Brindle

Whenever I travel I use a mobile

hotspot.
I am always afraid of huge
 Windows updates happening while

I am on the hotspot as it has only a ASKDAN!
few gb per month. I would really
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like to be able to ag that particular
connection as metered.

10 months ago REPLY

2
PowerAverage64

Settings -> Network & Internet -

> Wi-Fi -> Manage Know
Networks

10 months ago REPLY

1
Andre Blonde

Here's the thing. When I

go to manage known
networks I can see the
list of Wi-Fi spots I
connected to. But there
is no option for
properties there only
"forget" therefore I cant
set even wi to metered :
( it used to be there but
now it's just not. So it
sucks. And now I moved
to uzbekistan with data
cap 13gb per month I
really miss it back in
Malaysia where I
wouldn't ever care about
this option

0
10 months ago REPLY

henocksandy

I guess MS does not know that we

struggle to save data. Even
windows updates does not have an
option
to manually download the
 update and this used to take a lot

of internet. Thanks for the trick ;-)

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10 months ago REPLY
4
_Emi_

and it is 2016 and everything is

connected to internet in one
way or the other, so it's not
Microsoft fault you live on a
hole where you don't get proper
carriers to give you the service
everyone on 2016 should be
having.

I mean, did you even see this

article? it's about ETHERNET.
can you explain me how you get
ethernet connection but still
need to worry about "saving
data"?. it just doesn't make
sense, so again, it's not
technically Microsoft's fault that
you live in a place where
carriers are taking your money
and don't even give you a 24/7
service when you apparently
have a modem.

Also "we struggle" sounds like

you think the world goes
around you. I don't struggle to
save data when I use my PC and
the Ethernet cable. I only worry
about data when I use my
phone, and I won't download
the updates with data.

10 months ago
-13
REPLY

henocksandy

I don't live in a hole, i live

in a city where high
speed internet is
expensive. And I've seen

 many people who did

not upgrade to W10 only ASKDAN!
for this reason. I totally
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agreed with them when
4GB internet was used
only for November
update. MS knows that
there are 100s of cities
without internet and they
are helping internet to
reach them, but that
does not mean they are
giving it for free.
And i am talking about
ETHERNET! You should
know anything is not
free!
How hard is it to give a
"Manual" option? These
updates dont even care
what i am doing, it just
starts downloading
automatically and slows
my internet speed from
browsing internet!

6
10 months ago REPLY

Lawrence Crecy

Emi you're about as

stupid as they get. You
should get your head out
of your ass and realize
that windows 10 uses so
much data against our
will because of stupid
things like not being able
to turn off automatic
updates. Doesn't mean
our internet provider is
bad it just means we
would like to save 50GB+
for stuff that we actually
want. But we all know
you're mentally

 handicapped and won't

be able to comprehend
anything we tell you.
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4
10 months ago REPLY

WindowsPhoneUser0
01

Yeah Windows
takes up too much
data.

This was posted in

a pineapple under
the sea.

0

REPLY
10 months ago

kaoh_v

I think you should

want the updates,
you know, to keep
your
PC/Tablet/Phone
secure. If you do
not run an Insider
build the amount
of updates you get
to install are not
more than they
were before. They
are only a lot
bigger. And that is
to solve the oldest
windows update
complaint that
they are eating
your disk space.
Now you get the
base windows 10
and the latest CU
on your disk. In
 the past you got

all updates since

the latest CU and
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thats a lot for
windows 7 (till
very recently).
Windows 8 would
ll a small storage
tablet with just
updates sitting
there.
So its a trade of
between two bad
or you stop doing
updates, and
personally I feel
that thats the
worst option.

0

REPLY
10 months ago

balindosdos

Sorry I feel
updates
ruin my
computer
more than
help it.
Why worry
about it
being
secure
when there
are golden
keys.
Performan
ce wise
windows 8
with
updates off
worked
faster and
better. I
just shut off

 the

Windows
Update
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service.
Turn it on
when I feel
like
updating or
getting
something
from the
Windows
Store.
Work
computer I
can
understand
but not my
home
computer.

0

REPLY
6
months
ago

ad47uk

While most people here

in the UK do have
unlimited, there are still
some that hgave a
limited connection, some
because they only use
the net a limited amount
of time, so they go for a
cheaper option, even our
largest supplier, BT have
a limited option, with a
25GB limit, save
someone a tenner per
month compared to the
unlimited one, that is
120 a year. The other
reason is that some
people are still on a naf
ADSL system.

 Some of those I sure

uses ethernet, in fact one ASKDAN!
lot i know that have
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limited broadband do
use Ethernet as i set up
the connection myself.

0
10 months ago REPLY

WinOMG

I understand your
perspective because I
used to think like that (as
they always offered
unlimited internet
around here), but one
day something
happened to me. My
wireless router broke.
And nothing else
worked.And I had
important stuff to do.
And I had to wait 2 days
for repair and everything.
Apparently it was so bad
they had to rewire
everything. I had to use
the mobile hotspot on
my phone. I only had a
few gigs available. So I
needed data savings.
This was back with
Windows 7, but this data-
saving feature is very
helpful to some people
now.

0
10 months ago REPLY

kaoh_v
 In windows 10

now the mobile

hotspots are
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detected as being
metered
connections (at
least the one my
Lumia 950
creates) so this
particular example
is now not an
problem anymore.
Not trying to
reduce the
feedback though
cause the point
sticks, data-saving
is helpful in
certain scenario's.
Just trying to avoid
people thinking
this happens with
their hotspot also
:)

0

REPLY
10 months ago

rhapdog

Yes, but I've

had to use
my mobile
hotspot
with a
bridge
connected
to a router,
so that I
can be on
the internet
and print at
the same
time. The
bridge logs
into my

 mobile

hotspot
and gives
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access to it
to the
router on
the router's
WAN port.
Gives
wireless
and wired
access
throughout
the house
from a
mobile
hotspot. It
also allows
me to
access the
NAS for
additional
les I may
need, and
my wife
and I can
access each
other's
computers.
I had to
quit doing
that for the
sole reason
that
Windows
10 was
KILLING my
15GB data
plan within
a few days.
This would
have saved
me a lot.

Looks like
I'll be able
to go back
to using
that now.
 It's such a

pain having ASKDAN!
to
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disconnect
from the
internet,
connect
directly to
the printer
(wireless),
then print,
then
reconnect
to the
internet.
Real pain.

0
REPLY
10
months
ago

Jeff Bramwell

My dad lives in a fairly

rural area (in Oklahoma)
where there aren't a lot
of people so there aren't
any great broadband
options. His best option
is satellite service
(HughesNet) which is
what he uses. His access
comes in through a cable
modem attached to a
router. His primary PC is
plugged directly into the
router via an Ethernet
connection. However, he
is limited to 250MB
bandwidth per day (he
gets charged extra if he
goes over the limit).

As an example, I helped
him install Windows 10
on one of his "extra"
computers from the
most recent (at the time)
 ISO that I had pulled

down from my house

(where I have decent
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broadband). Within an
hour of getting Windows
10 initially installed, it
had pulled down nearly
300MB of "stuff" (not
really sure what since we
were using the latest ISO)
before we turned off
updates (by
killing/disabling the
Windows Update
service).

On a side note, I've

considered building a
utility that would allow
him to schedule the
automatic Windows
Update downloads since
he has window during
the night (around 02:00 -
06:00) where he can
download as much as his
current speed allows. I
designed a prototype but
haven't fully worked
through the nal tool yet.
I suppose I've
procrastenated a bit
because I was secretly
hoping Microsoft would
see the light and add
scheduled downloads as
a feature. However, I
think I probably
shouldn't be holding my
breath :-)

1
10 months ago REPLY

Ashhar Hasan

You can use the

amazing tool
 Networx. It does

exactly what you

want. Although
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you'll have a lot of
fun building the
project yourself.

1

REPLY
9 months ago

Jake Hansen1

No need to be
unpleasent just because
someone is not as
privileged as you.

0
7 months ago REPLY

dongorongoro

Actually, there are a

variety of situations
where it makes sense.

You say that OP is

apparently using a
(cable/DSL/etc.)
modem,but that's not
necessarily true. Though
he admitted he is, and
that the speed slowdown
in the biggest problem,
there are a variety of
other possible situations,
too.

The most likely alternate

scenario would probably
be USB tethering.
Generally, such a
connection will show up
on the PC as a virtual
wired ethernet interface.
This also sometimes
 happens with some

WWAN cards and USB

sticks. Indeed, the reason
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I ended up on this article
is because I have a built-
in WWAN card that
operates this way.

Such 'virtual' ethernet

connections aren't the
only possibility, either.
Consider 4G routers,
such as this one. Note
the ethernet ports in the
back, clearly enabling the
use of normal ethernet
to connect to a metered
cellular connection.

Further, I think it's worth

pointing out that cellular
connections aren't the
only type of connection
that can be metered.
More and more (home)
ISPs are rolling out caps
on their connections, for
example. There's also
stuff like BGAN satellite
terminals, which are
extremely expensive
bandwidth-wise: we're
talking 1-2 centsper
kilobyte. Can you
imagine how outrageous
the bill would be if your
Windows machine
started downloading
updates automatically
over such a connection?
Simply updating the live
tiles would probably
incur a signigant charge
alone.

And just for the record, I

nd it rather astounding
that you accuse OP of
thinking the world
 revolves around them.

He clearly wasn't using

"we" to refer to
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literallyeveryone, and a
simple Google search
shows he's far from the
only person with this
problem. Get over small-
minded self.

0
6 months ago REPLY